AN: Hey everyone! SanshiLove here hoping you all had a Happy Halloween. Sorry it's been awhile since our last chapter post, both me and CelestialMageLucy (CML) have been busier than usual. Hopefully we'll be able to pick up again with the colder weather arriving. Anyway enough of my rambling, thanks as always for the favorites, subscriptions, and reviews we really appreciate it and on with the story!

Song: RISE ft. The Glitch Mob, Mako, & The World Alive

Chapter 19: War & Family

~Briefs Home~

By the time Goku had landed in the clearing near her house, Bulma was curled up against him lightly dozing as her cheeks flushed from the fever. Seeing her finally resting brought a smile to his features. Using her access card, he opened the door using his one leg to find a pint-size half Saiyan boy sitting on the couch waiting up for her return. His eyes widened at seeing the sight of his mother asleep in his hero's arms. Instantly he jumped up and rushed over assuming the worst. Clearly he had been waiting for sometime judging by how much he was fretting over his mother.

"Goku is she..." the small boy looks at him with such concern in his eyes as moisture began to build up in the corners. Panic was building within him as he began to inspect her with his own eyes. That is when he peered around the large Saiyan to then notice the nurse Fria coming in behind his idol. "What is going on? Who is she?" he demanded with narrowed suspicious eyes.

"No worries little guy, your mother just overworked herself a bit and needs some rest. I was sent by the great Prince to ensure she does just that. You can call me Fria, alright?" Fria smiled kindly, her long black hair braided over her shoulder. "Kakarot we should get her to her own bed then I'll see to her needs."

"Right!. . . um Trunks where is your mother's room again?" Goku asked with his signature 'sorry I forgot, but could you help me' expression.

"Um this way, follow me." Trunks wasted no time in leading them up the stairs to his mother's room whose bed had not been slept in since she had last made it a few days ago. He quickly helped Fria pull the blankets back so that Goku can set her down gently on the bed. A soft whimper came from the woman as the bedding molded to her form and those tired eyes began to blink awake.

"Momma?" She heard her son whisper.

"Trunks? Why...why are you in my lab?" Her confused voice rasped. This earned a collective chuckle from the small group around the bed, save that of her son.

"Sorry Bulma, but you aren't at the lab. Remember, I took you home. You are back in your room at your house." She heard her best friend explain. Still blinking around with weary eyes, she took in her surroundings. True to his word, she was back in her room at the cottage. She saw her son was kneeling on her bed by her side with the worrisome expression as he couldn't find himself to move away from her.

"Oh Trunks, I am so, so sorry sweetheart." She offered a sheepish smile while she brought a hand up and cupped his cheek. Using her thumb to brush the softness of his features.

"You didn't come home..why did you have to work so much?" His worried tone was demanding. She felt his hands grip her out of a desperate need to be with his mother. Never in his entire life did they spend a night apart, much less a few. It scared him thinking that she might not be coming back.

"Sorry Trunks, I didn't mean to scare you. I needed to stay at work to bring a girl, just like you, home safely. It ran later than expected and I knew you needed your rest and studies."

"I couldn't sleep at all while you were gone! You can't do that to me! Not ever again!" He cried out suddenly with such vigor. He hadn't realized how scared and serious he was being till he felt his nerves from the last few days build into his abrupt anger.

Guilt and shame filled her as she stared back at those watery eyes. Her chest felt tighter than it did before, but she knew it wasn't from her cold. She was the reason behind that look, and honestly she didn't blame him for being this upset with her."Okay, okay. I won't do that again. I am so sorry, hunny." She leaned forward and kissed his temple. She knew her words were not enough, but that is all she could offer at the moment. She made a mental note to make it up to him after she had gotten some real rest.

"If you and your son don't mind, I think it is best that we get on with the exam." Fria eyed the small boy, who in his anger looked a lot like the prince.

"I already told you and the Prince, I just have a cold. Nothing to worry yourselves over."

"That may be, but you still need to be looked at. Better safe than sorry." Fria looked at the pair with a smile.

Letting out an annoyed but defeated sigh, she felt her shoulders slump. She knew better to and held her tongue as she caught sight of her child's expression out of the corner of her eye. After all, she knew there was no way she was going to get out of this. So, giving into their whims, the young mother looked towards her grinning friend, "Would you mind taking him?"

"Yeah, we'll be downstairs."

"I am not leaving." The child firmly spoke. His resolve was set as he prepared to argue not wanting to leave her side since she had returned home. He was lost without her and she needed him there.

"And miss me showing you a technique that not even Goten knows?" Wiggling his eyebrows as he knew bribery would work. The adults watched the emotions and internal conflict rage on in the young hybrids mind. The debate to stay or learn weighing heavily. He looked between his mentor and his mother as he struggled with this conflict of interest.

To be the final push to win over the boy, Bulma used her sweetest voice, "It is going to be alright, Trunks. Please, for me, go learn how to kick some butt. I promise, I won't leave this bed unless the doctor says I am all better. I am going to need you to help take care of me. You'll be my helper right?"

"Momma...yes. I will help. I promise." He lunged forward and wrapped his arms around her in an embrace. He held her tight and already she could tell that in the short time they had been here just how much stronger he had become. It brought a warm smile on her face as she hugged him back. Her little man was beginning to flourish and be who he was meant to be. He wasn't aware of it quite yet, but she was beginning to notice him growing into the man she was proud of.

"Alright, now scoot. I need to get better." She teased him as she watched him climb down from the bed and walk out behind Goku leading the way. She had to hold back a giggle as she could still see his emotions written on his face. He wasn't comfortable with leaving her, but she knew he couldn't deny what he wanted. Besides, he knew she was safe and he was going to help her. It warmed her heart to know that he cared so deeply.

"Strange boy you have there. Is he Saiyan?" The doctor eyed her patient.

"Yes. He is such a precious gift." Bulma had gotten up to gather clothing she could be comfortable in. She didn't have a care, nor energy to hide anything at the moment. All she wanted was to be in her pajamas and surrender to sleep as soon as she was allowed to.

"We will do the exam after you change." With a nod, Bulma changed in the bathroom and went back into her room. Knowing that she was home safe and sound, her son was able to go with his hero knowing all was right in the world.

~The Morning After the Rescue Mission~

The atmosphere at the palace hadn't calmed down since the beginning of the war. It seemed everyone who was anyone was on high alert and full on war mode as the Kolds had already made their first move. In the early morning, Vegeta found himself changing into this best attire to attend a war council meeting. A stupid formality he would have to get used to with the war in full swing. Today, after the meeting, he planned to check on the small saiyan girl, as he had had a feeling she might come out of the regen tank early. He couldn't put into words the strange connection that he felt with her, but all that would have to be put aside for now.

It was a small reward to look forward to after all the political, chaotic air that was already surrounding him at every other moment of the day. War was here and that needed to be at the top of everyone's priority. He broke out of his train of thought as he was welcomed at the entrance to the war council room by the sound of his father barking out orders and insults. Inwardly he felt himself being drained of what little motivation he had gained from his rest in the regen tank the night before. These war council meetings were just an opportunity for his father to wave his political power around. As long as there was war, there would be his father's rotten attitude and blatant abuse of power.

"Don't be a fool, we can't defend that stupid moon any longer! It has no value to us! More importantly we need to bolster our troops for the defence of Avalice. Any who say otherwise are foolish!" His father's angry words echoed in the high ceiling of the war room.

Vegeta made his way inside closing the doors behind him, the hologram of the saiyan defenses and the known Kold military vessels floating in the center of the room. One nice thing about the war council, no women allowed. He would not have to listen to Kalei's or his mother's voice for one day, although the alternative wasn't much better.

"BRAT! Where have you been! We are already losing this blasted war, I hope you're fucking happy!" The King glares at his son as Prince Vegeta takes his seat in the second in commands chair. "That bastard Kold knew this would happen and already had troops stationed near Vega, these morons want to try to defend it splitting our troops far too thin. We need to abandon it immediately and muster our troops on Avalice or risk losing far more."

"Avalice is an ice planet." Vegeta spoke without emotion while he studied the battleplans as they know it to be currently. He was quickly making up a plan not looking away from their territory. "Father it would be better to evacuate Avalice, but give the illusion like we are defending it. Their sweep of the planet would slow down their progress giving us time to double our troops here on Garros. Since Garros is in the perfect position to set up an ambush we might be able to eliminate the Kolds vanguard troops slowing down there advance. Garros also has a perfect moon for our Oozaru form to shine." The room becomes silent as the men all consider the young leader's plan. Vegeta thought it over again himself, being his own devils advocate, as he weighed the options that they needed to win this war not just for himself; but for everyone in their empire including a certain annoying scientist and her son.

"So what of this moon Vega . . . you plan to abandon it my prince?" Naven's eyes said it all as worry for his territory and resources reflects into his own. It was apparent to him, neither leader cared about his family mansion on Vega or his hidden diamond mine. The loss of this planet would be devastating to him and his hidden riches. He needed them to not lose Vega at all costs. "My lord, I asked if you plan to abandon the people on Vega." His tone serious as he demanded an answer and was being ignored.

"Lord Naven, I believe my father made it clear we cannot defend Vega without losing an insurmountable amount of men on the other fonts. Men in which we need desperately if we have any hopes of winning this war. So, yes we will abandon Vega." Vegeta hated to admit it but with how close the Kold's troops were and the time it would take to send reinforcements, there was just no way to save those people. Even with if they could get the shields the woman invented over there.

King Vegeta can't hold back a smirk at his son's agreeing with him. Finally the boy shows some real leadership and back bone, no more sniveling over some stupid child or weakling race. "My son is correct, we need to make a stand where we hold the higher advantage. Heh brat, for once I agree with your plan, Avalice would indeed be very hard to defend and an easy planet to fool the enemy. We all know what Avalice's magnetic ice storms do to planetary sensing equipment. Those Kolds will think our entire army is stationed there." He chuckles loudly enlarging the planet in the men's view. "It would be no trouble to place our military satellites and one or two battle cruisers around the planet with one of those new shields. We would give off the illusion that we are indeed choosing Avalice as our first line in the sand."

"My lords, do you not think the Kolds would just blow Avalice up instead of taking the time and equipment to search it?" Hart felt he had to add to the conversation as he saw Councillier Naven's face begin to fall. The fool deserved it, he chose that stupid moon since it was supposed to be rich in minerals, but it's also on the far edge of the Saiyan empire and a clear first target for any invader.

Vegeta considered this for a few moments, "we would need to leak information regarding the valuable materials of Avalice somehow. In order to amass troops in time we would need to protect Avalice as if we were truly there." Hart was right although Vegeta couldn't help but note the look on Hart's face as he said it. If Frieza was on the main attack vessel he would more than likely just blow Avalice up. However, if there was anything valuable on the surface there is no way King Kold would allow the planet to be destroyed. The Kolds moving this quickly is clearly due to careful planning. Surely they are already fully aware of what resources each planet holds, meaning they will already know Avalice is our biggest supplier of magnetic stone and fuel. It would definitely be on the 'do not destroy' list.

Vegeta looks again at the main hologram then steps up and rewinds it to the start of the war for Vega. The war began only four hours after he had pulled the little girl off Coolers ship. It was too much of a coincidence; his mission happening the same time the rebel troops decided to attack, the girl being all alone the moment he found her, and King Kolds troops being already in place to launch an attack. Someone was leaking information to the Kolds about all their plans. His eyes scan the four other men in the room; his father, councillor Hart, councillor Naven, and councillor Dack who was quietly amusing himself looking over the troop deployment orders.

"Lord Dack, what do you think about the Kold's initial attack on Vega?" Vegeta's eyes locked on Lord Dack's bringing with them the intensity his father would bring.

"It was far quicker than any of the planned models suggested young prince. I dare say this isn't the first time the Kolds have been a few steps ahead of us." A small smile slunk onto Lord Dack's face, he knew what the prince was really asking but it was not his place to sniff out rats. "I am in charge of public opinion of the war my lord," he corrects, "my main concern is when you'll release that girl to me so that we can at least show the public the responsible royal family did what was expected of them."

Vegeta hated Lord Dack, the man was a snivelling glutton who only cared about his individual duties. No one knew much about his rise to fame and power, but Vegeta could guess. He was likely a beneficiary of his father's dealings with the Kolds, as his planet and territories were close to the edge of the empire. No surprise then as well that the Kolds came from the other direction this time. "The girl is in no state to speak to the public yet-"

"She need not speak my lord," Dack interrupted, "just have some pictures next to the king and family for publicities sake and the war effort." Dack's smile only grew as he glanced up again at the young prince. Dack didn't mind serving the royal family, the tempers of each royal came as a delight to him. No party or event was a bore when a few words in someone's ear brought tempers to the edge. These meetings were no different, he could tell Prince Vegeta wanted to avoid the subject of bringing the girl into the public eye, this intrigued him. What was the precious prince hiding? Could he really be so protective over some random girl?

"When she is read-"

"Brat, I don't give a damn if she is ready or not! This is war! We need the public on our side. Our empire needs to all be on the same page so we can raise moral and win this blasted war. She will be shown to the public this afternoon, end of discussion." The King said slamming a fist on his chair to make his point clear. "Lord Dack we can discuss public opinion later right now we need to focus on the battle plans and get the orders out yesterday." The kings fury was raising, he was so tired of all the stupid petty squabbles. He was ready for this war and he wanted it to go his way. After all war is the best time to profit.

"As you command your grace," Lord Dack bows his head, "I will set up a press conference the moment as you command." He eyes prince Vegeta giving another smile as the talk turns once again to the battle plans.

"Father that girl just came back from hell and you want to throw her into a-"

"Brat! I will hear no more of your feelings about this girl. We got her back to show the people of the empire we could. We will use her as I say, now focus on what really matters." The King could only conclude that Kalei was rubbing off on his son, how horrible. The thought of his only son becoming some kind of anti-war weakling nearly made him sick.

Vegeta had to hold back his fists as he glared daggers at his father. That girl deserved so much more than being thrown out into the public eye as a poster child for the strength of the royal family. The girl was scared, lost, and needed a friend. He could think of two women who would be terribly mad with him over the choices his father was currently making. However, it was war time and King Vegeta had all the authority he wanted during a war, there was nothing he could do. He could feel his guilt consume him as he gave into his father's demands and returned to the subject of the war.

~The Girl Who Was Saved~

The warmth of the tank wrapped her helping her float. Her mind still unsure of what was real and what was part of her dreams. She was amazed how good her body felt for once as she could feel her energy freely circulating. The water from the tank began to drain as all of her senses were assaulted at once. Everything from the bright lights to the sterilized smells of the infirmary were overwhelming. She was clearly not in her cell, these people didn't look like Jetson's men. Was her dream real? Her body was completely healed as her hands found her bare neck. With trembling hands, she reached out and pulled herself to the edge of the tank. A warm hand reached out to help her exit the tank. Her memories of recent events came rushing back with all the intensity she could handle. She stumbled as her legs were still wobbly. The warm hands helped her stand on her two feet again. This feeling had triggered her memory to bring up the image of a face with flame swept hair dark as the night sky and obsidian eyes. That man had really come to save her? She wasn't dreaming again? Reality snapped back to her as Hope rubbed his velvety head against her leg. More fuzzy memories kept overriding her mind in waves. Was she . . . was she truly free?

"Wow that was way faster than we originally planned. How are you feeling" Bardock stood before her while overlooking her chart on the clipboard in his hands. What would have originally been weeks to heal took only a single day, he had to admit that human Bulma was good with her tech. He was trying to gauge if the girl was actually listening to him or just staring at him in a daze. The head scientist couldn't help the nagging notion that perhaps this Saiyan child could not understand the common Saiyan dialect.

Her words died in her throat as she gapped at the man that was standing in front of her. She couldn't seem to look away from him. She jumped a bit as she was suddenly being wrapped up in a soft, warm robe. Her eyes were wide as she questioned if her ears were deceiving her.

'Did he . . . just speak saiyan? Is he talking to me?'

She slowly picked up Hope protectively in her arms as the cat was happily purring his delight. He needed an answer, but could she find her voice to respond?

"...w-what?" Her own voice sounded out unsure and timid even to her own ears.

"How are you feeling?" Bardock repeated the question much slower, unable to hide the irritation in his voice as he watched her shudder under it. Inwardly, he berated himself as he had to remind himself that this girl had only just gotten clean from a slew of drugs the Kolds had subjected her to. She would need to be treated with patience.

"Um...s-sorry…" She offered an apology to the best of her ability. Having him stare at her with his scrutinizing gaze and feeling his agitation made her feel even that much smaller. With a gulp, she wet her dry lips in nervousness, "I'm feeling better. T-thank you." She added for good measure, this man definitely worked for the dark angel who saved her and she found herself determined to live up to her hero's expectations. She decided to do this by showing his men the utmost respect they deserved. Although, she was still somewhat scared without her hero by her side, she remembered he did say he was a prince. He must be really busy if that were the case. She needed to prove to him that she could manage herself.

"No need to thank me," Bardock turned back to the the charts in hand again quickly, "we need to give you some medication to help counteract the withdrawal symptoms from all the drugs they had you on. Can you do that for me?" He asked trying to be polite, this girl did go through hell afterall. As if on cue, a bed was brought out for her by two nurses and without a word, she was helped into the bed being mindful of Hope in her arms. The two nurses helped her to get settled against the pillows and drew up a warm blanket to her lap. Setting Hope onto her lap, she lightly pet him while he snoozed and purred under her touch. Everything seemed peaceful until the light reflected off a small and slender piece of metal one of the nurses picked up from a cart they brought in. Fear filled her as her mind rushed back to being on that ship under the thumb of the Kolds. Hope let out a yelp as her gentle caress turned to a tight grip on the poor creature.

"No needles!" She nearly jumped off the bed when the nurse prepped the needle with the anti-drug serum. She was able to release her grip so Hope retreated to her feet with a slight glare. The girl paid no mind as her eyes were set on the offensive item in their hand.

"Needles are the best way to-"

"Please . . . . for the angel Prince, I'll do anything but . . . please no more needles." She held herself feeling her body shake with need and fear. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she couldn't stop her assaulting thoughts from making her want to run from them and scream in her terror.

"Angel? You mean Prince Vegeta?" He had to catch himself before almost bursting out laughing. "The needles are the only way to administer these drugs, would you be alright if I knock you out for it?" He watched at the girl reclaim the offended small cat and hold him close to her chest much more gently than before while debating her answer to what he knew needed to be done.

"I . . don't want more drugs, unless the prince says I have to." The child had decided to take a stance, she never wanted to be put in that horrible fog again. Although her body craved the sensation, it was her mind that knew it was bad. Her prince saved her and she needed to rid herself of the drugs for him, anything for him. Her angel had come to save her alone, when she thought no one knew of her suffering. No one knew who she was, the thought continued to play again and again in her head like an echo. She wouldn't question her hero, not even if he asked her to kill people. He came for her when no one else would, she would find him and devote her every breath as a thanks to him, if he would have her.

"Miss? Miss?" Bardock said for the sixth time trying to gather and refocus the survivor's attention again. Her mind was a mess, any idiot could tell that. Her eyes finally snapped back to reality and locked onto his own. "If you don't take those drugs you'll be in a lot of pain, the prince wanted you to be completely healthy the next time he saw you. Don't make me tell him you refused his help." He had seen cases like this before, the child survivor making a god out of their savior. It was a dirty trick, but he needed to use it to his advantage for now.

"I don't mean to refuse him! I'm sorry please..." sudden fear of being sent back brought her to a near panic as she let go of the small kitten to grab Bardock's hand. The tears that had been forming in her eyes quickly begin to spill down her worried cheeks. This man would tell her angel she didn't want his help. She couldn't allow that! She would take whatever her angel told her too even if it meant needles. Anything was better than being sent back to that hell. This place was her salvation, it couldn't end so soon...

"Take it easy, take it easy." Bardock was able to grab the syringe that contained the anti-drugs from the waiting nurse. "How about this, I'll distract you while I administer them hmm? That way it's like you're not even taking them. The prince will be happy and you won't get sick anymore-" Mid way through the sentence he had already skillfully given her the serum. Her eyes were on him the whole time, the eyes that reminded him of the prince staring back at him. "There all done." He smiled to reassure her then helped her relax back into the bed. "If you feel up to walking around in a bit, we'll see if you can hold down a proper meal."

"Um sure, mr?"

"Oh my, call me Bardock. Most people here already know me quite well so I'm not used to introducing myself." This girl clearly had never been to the planet before, his memory going over the data about her in his head over and over.

'The girl was of the royal line, specifically Prince Vegeta's lineage, but how?'

He still hadn't found the right opportunity to tell the prince of his findings, of which he ran four times just to be sure. Knowing what he did, the resemblance was uncanny. She had the same strong eyes, the same small stature, her hairline even mimicked his princes, of course with much longer hair.

"Mr Bardock, where am I?" The reality of the situation hit her among the other things such as the prince and her current situation. Suddenly it occurred to her she had no idea where 'here' was. She also couldn't remember who she was either. She was sure that she had a name like Hope once before the haze. She attempted to think hard to find the information, but all she could see was a vague shadowy memory of a man with lavender hair fill her mind then fade away. The nurses began to wheel the patient towards her room with Bardock by her side.

"Ah yes you are currently on Veget-sai. More specifically in the royal palace's medial ward. I was ordered by his highness to look after you personally. We never did get a name from you, would you mind telling me for the chart?" He asked expecting a straight answer, although a child being tortured and drugged for who knows how long . . . would she even remember that? He felt his heart fill with empathy towards this lost girl who the prince saved from the Kolds.

"I . . . I don't remember my name." She glanced off to the side, her heart was hurting her from the sad realization. Those demons took everything from her, and she couldn't help but place the blame within herself. This has to be all her fault...right? Squeezing her eyes, she had to remember her prince. In her lost solitude, troubled by her own mind, she needed to focus on the one thing that just recently brought her happiness. He would need a name to call her, surely something that he would think fondly of. She had to also remember her pride...she was proud like him once wasn't she? Proud like her father . . . . her father...why did it hurt so badly to think of that word? Again she felt her big tears fall from her tired eyes, but why exactly was she crying?

"Uh hey, hey, it's alright if you don't remember right away. We can just get it from you later alright." The head scientists began to scramble at the sudden onslaught of tears; how he hated it when girls cried. There was something about this Saiyan child that made it that much worse. It was probably the look of utter confusion as she tried to remember her own name, something that was sacred to every Saiyan.

"Th-Thank you." She cried through her tears as she held herself.

"Eh, how about I get you something to eat alright?" He couldn't stand it anymore. He simply needed to distract her mind from whatever was upsetting her and help her back to recovery. He was never really good with children, especially when they were crying. Thinking back to the chart, he remembered his data showed that she wasn't that young, only small and malnourished.

"Food . . sounds really good." She sniffled as she turned her attention to the cat in her lap, whom was sensing her discomfort and purred that much louder. They had made it together, little Hope and her had been pulled out of that nightmare. Bardock allowed her stand on her own two feet again. The weakness in her legs healed from the regeneration tank. Her bare feet feeling the cold marble floor instantly put her at ease. Being able to stand again, her strength and memories would return with time. She smiled as hope for her future filled her once again. For once, in a long time, she hadn't wished for death or numbness; she was genuinely looking towards her future. She put on small slippers to allow her to leave the room.

Bardock held her hand and walked her step by step from the patient's room, down the hall, and towards the little dining area set up for the doctors and patients in the medical wing. Many of other doctors and guards couldn't help but stare as the girl made it to her destination on ever strengthening steps. Through her determination, she made it to her seat at the table with the small cat resting on her shoulder. She smiled cheekily at her cat as she reached one of her hands and lightly scratched under his chin; this only emanated more of his satisfied purring.

"Alright we are going to take this first meal slow alright, only take small bites and drink water in between those bites. I'll get you whatever you want but on the conditions that you follow my orders." Bardock bargained with the small girl who only just stared right back at him with her blank stare.

"I'll try, but I am really hungry. What about Hope? Do you have food for her?" The girl pleaded on behalf of her pet. Deep down she couldn't hide the mild irritation of not being able to place her own name when she knew only her cat's.

"Of course, now just relax and I'll get you some food." He walks off towards the main ordering area to get a few meals made for saiyans who were malnourished. Many consisted of a bit of meat, some kind of gravy and a rice like substance. He grabbed three different dishes for her to try and put in his meal ticket which would be delivered to the table later. He then brought over some water, a meal for the cat, and set the water on the table.

Bardock cleared his throat to gain her attention, "I don't mean to pester you, but perhaps if we can't figure out your true name, we could come up with some sort of nickname of call you by until you do realize it? It could be anything?" He made an attempt to make small talk as a means to distract her.

"I don't know...what would you like to call me?" She could feel the eyes on her from all around. Even though she pretended it didn't bother her, her body betrayed her.

He chuckles and waves his hand lightly, "No, no, it doesn't matter what I want. It is your name. You decide what it should be. Just like you have called your little friend Hope, then it is up to you to choose something that means something to you."

"I called her that in my daze as a joke." The girl says looking down at the table.

"A name is not a joke." Bardock took a sip of his own drink as he watched her from the rim of his glass as she contemplated his words.

She looks down at the floor sucking in breaths. "Maybe I wasn't worthy of being saved."

"Maybe, but that is for the Prince to answer, not me. You want him to see you are doing well, right? I think it is your turn to give him some hope. He risked his life for you. He risked resources, time, and defied his family to ensure your safety. Coming up with a nickname shouldn't be too hard." He took another long drink of his cup.

"I don't know," the Saiyan child struggled with her head throbbing and a distinct, constant ringing. All the eyes were on her, everyone was judging her. Everything was closing in and pressing down on her. As she looked around she saw all the faces staring at her, felt the claws of her cat digging into her shoulder, and noticed her vision fading. As she wildly began looking around the room, she hadn't noticed her breathing becoming sporadic, panicked, and beginning to wheeze.

Realizing the panic attack before him, Bardock reached his hand over to the girl and firmly grabbed onto her wrist. "Listen to me. I want you to focus on me alright." Setting down his drink he began to purposefully lower his voice and breathed deeper for her to match. "Focus on breathing with me."

She tries to breath with him her world fading as she starts losing focus. She was going to fail again. She couldn't fail her prince, she takes a deep breath with him settling her pulse as everything comes slowly back into focus.

He smiles proudly at her, and no one in the room is the wiser to what had just happened. "Listen to me, no one is watching you. You need to take the temperature of the room and realize that you have a sense of worth. You seemed to have forgotten that. I will help you find it again."

"How . . will you do that." She keeps breathing with him keeping her panic attack at bay.

"By reminding you of what you are. First, I want you to get some mental help to go along with my help. My son's wife is what's called a therapist, she might be able to help you remember things and cope with what happened." He kindly spoke as he continued to maintain his grasp while using a calm, low voice. "So, I think I might have a name for you."

"A . . . name." Her mind was racing as she focused on his face.

"Yes, what do you think of the name Asha? It was my mother's name and it means the lost one. I think it fits until you remember your name." He smiled at her keeping his connection to her as she nodded.

"That's a lovely name and it-" Suddenly her mind filled with the lavender haired man holding her next to a small campfire. Father she mouthed as tears started rolling down the sides of her cheeks. The man in her hallucinations, the man she had been dreaming about was her father. She remembered her father, the precious memory of there night together had been returned. Her name though what was it? Her father was a hero, right?

"Hey, hey?" Bardock looks at the girl still trying to get her attention, "are you alright?"

"Uh . . yeah yeah I . . . I think I remembered something." She had remembered her father, but what was her name? Bardock had broken her train of thought and now she struggled to remember just the small bit she had. She again could see her father holding her in the light of the campfire mouthing something. Once again her train of thought was broken as a bowl was set down in front of her. It looked and smelled like heaven in a bowl. Delicious rice with a spicy sweet red sauce on top. She moves to shovel it down when Bardock takes a seat next to her.

"Remember slow at first." Bardock helps her slowly eat the meal small bite after small bite. The girl's stomach would need time to adjust back to normal food and he would be damned if she made herself sick as his patient. The prince was counting on him to make her presentable since the council would need to see her today. He would need to do something about her panic attacks though. As if on cue, Prince Vegeta and his sister walk in arguing as usual.